Glad I bought them. Removed bolts in a tight area yesterday and the 3/8" worked fine. Thumbwheel ratchets reach where standard ratchets won’t fit. they look like this http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-thumbwheel-ratchet-set-94011.html
Thumbwheel ratchets
- Thread starter ronbo
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Yup. I have the same set. The ratchet is pretty sloppy but they do what needs to be done.
I have those too and an old Blackhawk thumbwheel without the ratchet but with a 3/8 square drive hole in the head. Great for getting sparkplugs in without stripping. I prefer the Blackhawk because I can then just stick the ratchet in to snug em' down. I bought these when I misplaced the Blackhawk. they arent smooth, beautiful, or anything but they work. For $5, you can't go wrong. I don't think anyone but Paul Bunyon would be able to over torque em' with their hand.
JHZR2
Staff member
I have an sk 3/8" one, but can't say I've ever used it. In tight spots, I have used wobble extensions to get to the item I'm working on.
Maybe I'm missing out? But an extension is sure smaller than a thumb wheel.
Maybe I'm missing out? But an extension is sure smaller than a thumb wheel.
I use mine a fair amount - mainly to prevent me from over torquing bolts. They seem to work faster than a ratchet for lots of small bolts like you would find on a transmission pan or intake manifold.
Out of my older Matco set, I only seem to use the 1/4.
Out of my older Matco set, I only seem to use the 1/4.
I just bought the SK 3/8, very well made and smooth. I am very happy with it.
I agree thumbwheels can be occasionally useful. But the HF trio is one of the worst ratchets I've ever had. Rough action, way too much drag. It was more like a spinner disk than a ratchet. I even relubed it. Improved but still terrible. Kept it for 2 days, put it back in the package, and returned it to the store. Buy a different brand! The thumbwheels from HF are one of their duds.
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Originally Posted By: Vikas
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
When you are turning a socket that takes more torque than you can develop with your fingers but space is too tight for a regular ratchet. Or you've got too much grease or oil on your fingers to turn a fairly smooth socket but can easily turn a knurled thumbwheel.
I just used mine this week when installing a new serpentine belt tensioner in my Golf. Access was a bit tight to get a ratchet in place for the 80mm long bolts, couldn't turn them by hand and didn't want to use a wrench.
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
When you are turning a socket that takes more torque than you can develop with your fingers but space is too tight for a regular ratchet. Or you've got too much grease or oil on your fingers to turn a fairly smooth socket but can easily turn a knurled thumbwheel.
I just used mine this week when installing a new serpentine belt tensioner in my Golf. Access was a bit tight to get a ratchet in place for the 80mm long bolts, couldn't turn them by hand and didn't want to use a wrench.
I use the HF socket-caps instead, then I can use a wrench or ratcheting wrench to give the final tightening.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: scurvy
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
When you are turning a socket that takes more torque than you can develop with your fingers but space is too tight for a regular ratchet. Or you've got too much grease or oil on your fingers to turn a fairly smooth socket but can easily turn a knurled thumbwheel.
I just used mine this week when installing a new serpentine belt tensioner in my Golf. Access was a bit tight to get a ratchet in place for the 80mm long bolts, couldn't turn them by hand and didn't want to use a wrench.
But if space was an issue, why wouldnt I just use an extension and maybe a u-joint and get my ratchet out to where there is space?
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
When you are turning a socket that takes more torque than you can develop with your fingers but space is too tight for a regular ratchet. Or you've got too much grease or oil on your fingers to turn a fairly smooth socket but can easily turn a knurled thumbwheel.
I just used mine this week when installing a new serpentine belt tensioner in my Golf. Access was a bit tight to get a ratchet in place for the 80mm long bolts, couldn't turn them by hand and didn't want to use a wrench.
But if space was an issue, why wouldnt I just use an extension and maybe a u-joint and get my ratchet out to where there is space?
If you could use a ujoint and an extension, space isn't too much of a problem. I use them where you can barely get your hand in and where you want good feel to ensure you are not cross threading.
I have a 3/8ths drive adaptor to turn a 1/2" ratchet wrench into a low profile ratchet. I had to use it as a thumb wheel with a 10mm allen socket to remove and install a head bolt that was under the brake booster on a 2000 Honda Passport.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
If you do enough wrenching on a car, you will find the need for thumbwheels. Maybe not often, but sometimes there is no other way - especially in todays tight packaging.
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
If you do enough wrenching on a car, you will find the need for thumbwheels. Maybe not often, but sometimes there is no other way - especially in todays tight packaging.
Originally Posted By: user52165
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
If you do enough wrenching on a car, you will find the need for thumbwheels. Maybe not often, but sometimes there is no other way - especially in todays tight packaging.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Can somebody explain under what condition a thumb wheel ratchet is a necessity? Is it lot better than spinning the socket by your fingers? Is this a solution looking for a problem?
If you do enough wrenching on a car, you will find the need for thumbwheels. Maybe not often, but sometimes there is no other way - especially in todays tight packaging.
But why do you need ratcheting action? Doesn't your finger grip automatically works as a ratcheting action? Sorry for being a pest but I am not getting it. Believe me, I love ratchets and have bunch of them. Some of them are truly shelf queen and are bought only to be admired but not for use 
Originally Posted By: Vikas
But why do you need ratcheting action? Doesn't your finger grip automatically works as a ratcheting action? Sorry for being a pest but I am not getting it. Believe me, I love ratchets and have bunch of them. Some of them are truly shelf queen and are bought only to be admired but not for use
Ratchet is faster and less likely to slip off in blind/tight areas.
But why do you need ratcheting action? Doesn't your finger grip automatically works as a ratcheting action? Sorry for being a pest but I am not getting it. Believe me, I love ratchets and have bunch of them. Some of them are truly shelf queen and are bought only to be admired but not for use
Ratchet is faster and less likely to slip off in blind/tight areas.
Originally Posted By: Vikas
But why do you need ratcheting action? Doesn't your finger grip automatically works as a ratcheting action? Sorry for being a pest but I am not getting it. Believe me, I love ratchets and have bunch of them. Some of them are truly shelf queen and are bought only to be admired but not for use
Thumbwheel will have a much larger diameter and a knurled texture for a much better grip and the action of a ratchet. Tou would have to be Mr. Universe to exert that much tightening force.
But why do you need ratcheting action? Doesn't your finger grip automatically works as a ratcheting action? Sorry for being a pest but I am not getting it. Believe me, I love ratchets and have bunch of them. Some of them are truly shelf queen and are bought only to be admired but not for use
Thumbwheel will have a much larger diameter and a knurled texture for a much better grip and the action of a ratchet. Tou would have to be Mr. Universe to exert that much tightening force.
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